Sunday Tafsīr with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia

Surah Fatir (35:1-2). It's a sign of the Day of Judgment when what is against the fitrah becomes the norm. In this lecture: insights into fitrah; the communicative role of angels; being in sync with the cosmos and the world of the angels; the code of Alhamdulillah; a Nabi's depth of perception.

Surah Saba (34:53-54). The aakhirah is an extension of this world. What we do here is reflected in the next on a grander scale. In this lecture: Allah's eternal knowledge of everything; the parable of Saba; a wahy-based civilization; the resources accessible to Dawud (AS) and Sulaymaan (AS); Nur illuminates the structure of the cosmos; balad cross-references.

Surah Saba (34:48-53). Allah (S) grants knowledge to the Anbiyaa that other human beings do not have access to. In this lecture: definitions of al-ghayb; al-Haqq; kalimah insights; guidance and misguidance.

Surah Saba (34:42-47). The arguments of those opposed to Islam in any time are akin to the arguments of the Quraish against the Prophet (S). In this lecture: the super-rational nature of truth; standards in verifying the truth; the mission of a Nabi; the rights of Allah; proof of nubuwwah.

Surah Saba (34:38-42). When Muslims become Allah's servants in Ramadan, Allah reciprocates by expanding their rizq and gives them the best food. In this lecture: a formula to increase rizq; infaaq versus israaf; insights into tauheed and the theory of ownership and deputization; the devil promises poverty.

Surah Saba (34:32-37). The punishment for istikbaar (arrogance) is humiliation. In this lecture: implications of disbelief; the primary targets of wahy; the Quran as the source of truth; maal versus rizq; wealth and children; attributing prosperity to the Mun'im; an outlook of positivity and hamd.

Surah Saba (34:27-31). Victory and success transcend this world. In this lecture: a prophet for all peoples in all times and places; the hadith of shafa'a; a dual responsibility for Muslims; honest representation of both sides of the nabi: the bashir and the nadhir; insights into ethics of warfare; believing in the Ultimate Truth.

Surah Saba (34:22-26). Allah (S) owns and controls everything He has created. Shaykh Amin expounds on the relative insignificance of human capacity before the Divine. In this lecture: the insinuations of the devil; the need to speak up in the face of injustice; the Day of Judgment and insights into intercession; the purpose of religion; the shukr of Dawud (AS); true rizq; individual responsibility...

Surah Saba (34:16-21). The people of Saba were punished owing to their ingratitude for Allah's favors upon them. In this lecture: the kinds of dzulm, both open and subtle; ease of travel for the people of Saba; nourishment and security; comparing current events; if you care, you share; Allah's condemnation of Iblis; expanding our purpose in life to reject the devil; Al-Hafeedz.

Surah Saba (34:14-15). Allah gives knowledge to the extent He deems it sufficient. He withholds knowledge of the unseen for reasons He knows. Seeking knowledge from the ghayb is not from the sunnah. In this lecture: the bountiful land of Saba and its decline; the components of good living; insights into how Muslim psyche was shaped by these aayaat; rububiyyah and the role of the rabb in human deve...

Surah Al-Ahzab (34:11-13). If you want to serve Allah (S) then you have to also serve Him through the actions that you perform, done out of shukr. In this lecture: a correct niyyah; service and hospitality with ihsan; Dawud and Sulayman (AS) as examples of grateful servants.

Surah Saba (34:9-11). The mindset of one who sees Allah as praiseworthy inclines towards a state of inaabah. Shaykh Amin keeps the theme of hamd central as he describes the gifts of Dawud (AS). In this lecture: Allah's innate praiseworthiness; gleaning positivity from the Qadr of Allah; insights into servanthood; the abilities of Dawud (AS); the prophetic ability to harness power creatively to rep...

Surah Saba (34:3-8). True belief entails believing in Allah's ability to forgive you for your sins and Allah's ability to provide for you. In this lecture: God in the opinion of his servant; seeing the Nabi as a ni'mah, as more than 'just a human being; the hijab of man's arrogance; belief in the aakhirah clears the way; disbelief in accountability feeds into the adhaab of pessimism; two stories i...

Surah Saba (34:1-3). An introduction to Surah Saba. Praise (hamd) for Allah (S) and His Rasul (S) pervades Quranic discourse and linguistics - both within the confines of time and space, and without. In this lecture: sabr and shukr arising out of hamd; an enduring and uncompromising optimism; weathering life in the light of Allah's Fadl; the Muslim's perception of good deeds; recognizing the Divin...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:73-73). Shaykh Amin provides additional insights into Surah Al-Ahzab in a short tafsir session to close out the Fall semester. Aligning our worldview with that of the Prophet (S) helps us carry the trust of volitional faith. In this lecture: iman and amaanah; the overwhelming rahmah of Allah (S); nifaq and kufr as consequences to the inability to bear the burden of trust; the gr...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:69-73). Conclusion of Surah Al-Ahzab. In this lecture: the Bani Israeel as an irreverent people who under-appreciated their Nabi; a warning to the munafiqeen of Madinah; qawlan sadeedan; insights into marriage; the civilizational code of following the Nabi; the pervasiveness of intellect; seeing the trust through; aligning with the sunnah.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:62-68). The sunnah of the Rasul (S) is universal, but the sunnah of Allah (S) is His prerogative, more specific in its manifestation. In this lecture: the sunnah of Allah (S); the Day of Judgment; the risk of devaluing the life of the Rasul (S) and the civilizational value of loving him; taubah and istighfaar as a means of preservation and protection; a necessity to discuss and...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56-61). The discussion continues with an enumeration of the merits of Salaat 'ala An-Nabi and the etiquette of expressing love for the Nabi. In this lecture: Salaat 'ala An-Nabi as an ibaadah; the love of the companions for the Prophet (S); an inverted understanding of maturity; modesty is in the heart first; building a moral infrastructure; behavior modeled after the sunnah.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:56-59). An exposition of verse 56, which encapsulates how Allah (S) and the angels see the Nabi. In this lecture: the role of gender relations in understanding this aayah; the three categories of salaat 'ala al-Nabiyy; individual najaat; subitting to what the Nabi submitted to; the greatest la'nah; the trap in justifying sin; manifesting salaat 'ala al-Nabi; the ripple effect of...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:53-55). The prophets (AS) are not concerned about what happens in this world, rather they remain focused on human salvation in the Hereafter. In this lecture: preserving the office of the Rasul (S); the ahl of The Rasul (S); acknowledging human nature by recognizing due protocol and formalities; an example in Sayyidatina Aaisha (RA); a higher standard of taqwa; honoring ideals;...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:49-53). It is part of our 'aqidah that there are certain privileges that Allah (S) affords to the Prophet (S) that do not extend to his followers. This is Allah's prerogative to give to His Nabi what He pleases, as He pleases. In this lecture: appreciating the legal authority of the Nabi (S) and his prerogative to exercise restraint; the Nabi's commitment to nubuwwah; reading th...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:47-48). These verses are indispensable to an understanding of RasulAllah (S). A Muslim's passion for the Prophet (S) must be internalized and expressed. In this lecture: a witness for all people; acknowledging good and evil; the limitations of logic; love as the overriding attribute of the one who submits; the Fadhl of Allah (S) and the loss in misappropriating it.

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:44-46). The Prophet (S) is positioned high on the mountain of nubuwwah from where he sees everything that can happen to one who does (not) submit to Allah (S). We cannot deny or reject anything that the Prophet (S) came to deliver as a Nabi. In this lecture: - the etymology of the word “Nabi”; the bearer of glad tidings; the warner; the obligation of true expertise; professing f...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:40-43). There is no greater favor than Islam, and being Muslim. In this lecture: additional insights into khatm al-Nabiyyeen, and the perpetuity of the the nubuwwah of Muhammad (S); a prophet for all creation; the inheritance of the 'ulamaa, its preservation and distribution; accessing teh Fadl of Allah (S); transparency in worship; the special focus of Allah (S) and his angels...

Surah Al-Ahzab (33:38-40). The companions had a refined understanding of Islam primarily because they internalized their recognition of Muhammad (S) as RasulAllah. In this lecture: the role of a Nabi is not limited tribal customs; an understanding of the conclusive; viewing seerah with the lens of submission; the staying power of Nubuwwah; addressing with honor; the legacy of Fiqh; Khaatim al-Nabi...